Sprinkling apparatus



NOV. 24, 1931. J, T, PLUMER 1,832,915

SPRINKLING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 18. 1929 i/fi l Patented Nov. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES JAMES T. PLUMER. or NILEs, MICHIGAN SPRINKLINGAPPARATUS l Aplilication filed November is, i929. serial No.1407,s94.

My invention relates to a new and' useful improvement in a sprinkling apparatus and has for its object the provision of al sprinkling apparatus which may be operated for under surface` irrigation and which while being operated will not injure'thev roots of growing plants and the like.

` It is another object of the present invention to provide. a control mechanism whereby the control of diiferent units of the sprinkling operation may be automatically operated.

Another object of the invention is the pro- Y vision of a plurality of sprinkling. conduits positioned under ground and'provided Ywith guards or" shields for protecting the soil around the conduits so that a washing of the soil will be prevented.

Another object of the invention is' the provision of an automaticy control mechanism which will be simple in structure, economical of manufacture, andhighlyeificient in use.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.4

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts Vhereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by a reference -to the accompanying` drawings which form a part of this speciication. andv in which, v j

Fig. lis a sectional view of a part of the invention. 5

Fig. 24 is a central sectional view of a valve and operating mechanism used in the invention. 4 Y Y' Y Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of a valve actuating mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of thesprinkling conduits.l i

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on 'line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken" on line 6-6 of Fig.v 4. Y Y

Y In the Yinvention I provide amanifold or water Vconduit 9 connected with whichl are laterally extending manifolds or conduits 10 and 11. Connecting through `Ts 12 are tubes 13v which serve to establish communication between the adjacent parallel extending lateral conduits or manifoldsl 10 and 11'.4 At spaced intervals in the tubes 13 are I outlet openings 14. A shield or sleeve 15 is loosely positionedl over the'tube 13 at each of the outletV openings 14 as shown in Fig.

6l the sleeve 15 is of considerably largerdi-v ameter than the tube 13. The tubes 13 as well as the pipes 9, 10, and 11 are embedded in the ground 17 which it is desiredV to irrigate. v Extending aroundeach of theV pipes 13 is a layer of fine sand lexte'nding trans-i` verselyA of thepipes 13 at spaced intervals are'layers of sand 16 to afford a passage for the flow of the water so that the water may permeate the soil 17 through the area defined by the sprinkling apparatus. A control valve 18 is positioned -at each end.v of

the tube 13 to control the flow of water therethrough. A drain cock 19 is mounted at the endV of each of the conduits or manifolds. j c j In the use of this sprinkling apparatus underground when the water is delivered `under pressure 4to the pipes '9 it will flow through the manifold or conduits 10 and -11 and issue from the outlet openings inthe tubes 13. The shield 15 will` prevent washing away of the dirt around the outlet opening so that a slowflow orA filtering ofthe water gradually into the earth may be affected and adjacent outlet openings Vineach pipe are so located as to thoroughly saturate the earth between these outlet openings. Similarly the tubes 13 are located in spaced relation in communication with the pipes 10 and v11 such that the space of earth between adjacent tubes 13 willbe thoroughly saturated.

In a sprinkling system of this kind various independent units may be installed in various adjacent or independent areas and I have provided a means for controlling the ow of water into these various units with a minimum amount of eil'ort and labour expense. Y

To this end I provide a tank`20 communicatingwith which is an inlet pipe 21 whereby water under pressure may be conductedto the tank 20. Fixedly mounted on the upper side of the tank 20 is a hub 21 which has a recess 22 kformed therein registering with the opening 23 formed in the top 24 of the tank. A plurality of hollow arms or spokes 25 radiate outwardly from the hub 2l each being in communication with the recess 22. A three way valve is interposed between each of the arms or spokes 25 and the delivery pipes 99. These valves comprise .a housing 26 which is threaded on the nipple 27 projecting outwardly from the arms or spokes, these arms or spokes, being connected'by a rim 28. Rotatably mounted inthe housing 26 is a cock 29 having the passage 30 formed therein which extends diametrically through the cock 29 and communicateswith .the later-V al passage 3l. The pipe 99 is threaded into fone'end of the housing 26 and a drain pipe ..32 isthreaded intothe side ot the housing26.

Positionedon suitable support 33 sup- .ported by the arms or uprights 34 is an electric mot-01H35 having a worm 36 iXedly mountedion its shaft-37 and meshing with a worm wheel 38 fixedly mounted on th shaft 39 which is journaled in thefbearings 40 and 4l. 4Fixedly mounted `on the shaft 39-is apa-irof arms 42 and 43 connected by the cross-bar 44. Projecting downwardly Vfrom the'cnd of each of the arms '42 and vis -pin 45. Fixedlymounted on the stem 46 .of each of the valves are triangularly shaped plates 47 and 48. The construction is such that Awhen the motor is set into rotation fthe arm 42 is brought into engagement withthe :plate 47 so as to rock it into the corresponding position of the plate 48 which will rotate the stem 46 through 90 degrees. .The passages -30 and 3l will establish communication hetweenthe delivery pipe 99 and -the drain pipe v32 at the same ytime the armlzwhich is shorter than ,the stem 42 will rock the valvestem 46 to a position which will establish'communication between the tank .2O Vand the pipe 99. This `will .permit the flow `of water through the. pipe 99 into the cylinder.49. Positioned in the cylinder 49 .is a. piston 50 which extends into the fitting `52 inwhich is formed'thevalve seat Fi edly mounted on .the cXtension-54Yo the :rod v5.1is a valve 55 which is adapted to engage ithe valve seat-53 and prevent the Vflowing of water through the fitting inthe direction indicated by the arrows. Guide spider .5G is mounted in the litting` 52 and through Vthis guide spider is projected Athe rod 54. Delivery V.pipe 57 which is connected to the sup- 'plyfof water underipressure suchas a pump or the "city pressure lines is connected by the collar 5S.to this itting 52 andaguidc spider V59 is positioned in the pipe57 Vto as a guide for the rod extension 54. The Apipe 9 9 fisfconnected :in communication with the -ittin-g 52. In use, when the pipe'99 is connected in communication with the tank 20, the water under pressure in the tank 29 will flow into Y.thecylinder 49 anu move the 4piston 50 soasto force the valve 55 from its seat and permit the flow of water into JLhe pipe 9. One of these fitting 52 will be provided for each unit of the sprinkling system and by having a number of these unitsl connected to the various arms or spokes 25 it is evident that a number of areas may be sprinkled alternately. The gearing from the rinotor shaft 37 is sufficiently reduced to permit the sprinkling of each area a suliicient length of time for proper irrigation.

lVith 1a sprinkling apparatus such as dcseribed an underground irrigation becomes 'possible-and the proper irrigation et a large area be affected with a minimum an'icunt o'f effort. 'It will "be noted that with the control.mechanism described only one ol the units will be iii-operation at a time butthis -inight be'variedby locatingvthe arms 42 and .43 withAthe different distances between them or at dilierent relative inclinations.

The tubes v13 are preferably made vfrom copper which will reduce the bursting of' the pipes in the event of freezing toa miniinum. These tubes 13 .are also formed ilexible orvcasily bendableand are preii'crably laid ona level even when used for irrigating a rolling peice ot ground the pipes being laid aroundthe knoll orelevation` but still maintained substantially in a'horizontal position. This Vwill `assure proper `irrigation through fthe length of the tube and prevent a washing .awayvof the dirt from around the tube.

t will be noted that theoutlet openings 14 .areso positioned asto be at the side ot the tube .13` so that should the tubes not drain and freezingresult the tubes will never be more .than haltilledso that the freezing would not `burst the tubes ,15.

By sprinkling with an `underground installationbecause ofthe delivery of the water below the surface the groundis maintained in .a porous condition. Because all oi the water is absorbed and surface evaporation r'is prevented .an economical irrigation Vbecomes possible and the use of the system will prevent. scalding of vegetation and the incon veniences resulting from splashing and Vsprinklingonto shrubs, walks, etc., which .iis generally the Acase ywhere surface sprin klers are used.

Vith the .surface sprinklers it is necessary, in order to spread the 'water the neces- .sary distance, that amplepressure be provided, whereas with the underground system eiiicientirrigation can be accomplished with a very low pressure it being but necessary thatthe water be undcr'suiiicient pressure to flow through the pipes and tubes.

Vhile Ihaveillustrated and described the preferred form of construction I do not wish to limit myself to the'precise details of struc- -tureshown but desirevto availvmyselll of such 'variations and modifications as come within thev scope fof theiappended claims.

.Havingythusdeseribed my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In the sprinkling apparatus of the class described: a plurality of delivery pipes; means for each of said delivery pipes for controlling delivery of Water through each of said delivery pipes; a control Vmechanism for each of said means positioned at a distance therefrom for controlling the opening and closing of said means; and rotatable means for operating said control mechanism selectively. Y

2. In a sprinkling apparatus of the class described, a plurality of delivery pipes; a plurality of valves, each for controlling delivery of Water through one of said delivery pipes; a plurality of rotatable arms of varying lengths; means for rotating said arms; engagement means on each of said arms; and means associated with each of said valves engageable With the .engagement means on each oil said arms dependent upon the position of the valve with which associated. l

3. In a sprinkling apparatus of the class described, a plurality of delivery pipes; a plurality of valves each adapted for controlling delivery of Water-through one of said delivery pipes; a plurality of rotatable arms of varying lengths; movable means associatedwith each of said valves movable into one position upon the opening or' said valve1 and movable into another position upon the closing or' said valve, and engageable when in one position with one of said arms, the continued rotation of said arm While in engagement therewith effecting a movement to the other position of said member; and means for rotating said arms. l

4. In a sprinkling apparatus of the class described, a plurality of delivery pipes in spaced relation; a plurality of valves each interposed in a delivery pipe for controlling delivery of Water therethrough; an engagement member associated With each of said valves, movable into one position for opening said valve, and into another position for closing said valve; a plurality of arms of varying lengths in spaced relation to each other coordinated to the spacing of adjacent engagement members such that upon rotation of said arms a pair of said arms may engage a pair of said engagement members simultaneously, the rotation of said arms subsequent to engagement ei'ecting the movement of the engage-ment members from one position to another; and means for rotating said arms.

5. In a sprinkling apparatus .of the clas's described, a plurality of delivery pipes in spaced relation; a plurality of valvesI each interposed in a delivery pipe for controlling delivery of Water therethrough; an engagement member associated with each of said valves, movable into one position for opening said valve, and into another .position for closing said valve; a plurality of arms of varying lengths in spaced relation to each otherv co-ordinated to the spacing of adjacent engagementmembers, such that upon rotation of said arms, a pair of said arms may engage a pair of said engagement members rf simultaneously, the rotation of said arms subsequent to engagement effecting the movement of the engagement members from one position to another, one of said members so engaged being moved to open position; and f the other to closed position.

In testimony whereof I have signed the forgoing specification.

JAMES T. VPLUMER. 

